They've lost one of their members but you can't keep a good band down. The boys from Westlife talk to New! about Kerry and Brian's split, who Mark's snogging now, and why Simon Cowell is actually a big softie...

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Boybands and lap dancers go together like vodka and Red Bull - often at the same time and with famously messy results - so when we suggested meeting Westlife at Stringfellows, a club infamous for its scantily clad employees, we anticipated a less-than-enthusiastic reaction from the band's PR. Especially after their ex-bandmate Brian McFadden's run-in with a lap dancer on his stag night- a liaison that's now being blamed in part for his marriage breakdown. But, no, apparently Stringfellows would be fine.

When we arrive, the lads are already waiting patiently on the club's leopard-print sofas. It's a completely different story from our last meeting with Westlife, a little over year ago. Then, multiple fag breaks and constantly ringing mobiles meant we ended up yelling "Will you please sit down and LISTEN!", after struggling to get in a single question. And, at the centre of the chaos, was a hyped-up, Diet Coke guzzling and nicotine-craving Mr McFadden.

Brian's departure in March to pursue a solo career and the new chilled-out, grown-up mood in the Westlife camp are undoubtedly linked. It must also help, however, that of the four remaining members, three are happily love-up. Shane Filan, 25, and Nicky Byrne, 26, are married to their childhood sweethearts Gillian and Georgina, while Kian Egan is in a long-term relationship with soap actress Jodi Albert. ("It's going great," says 24-year-old Kian. "She's leaving Hollyoaks in November so I can't wait to see more of her.") As for Mark Feehily, well, he is as elusive as ever when it comes to his private life. The 24-year-old has been dogged by rumours about his sexuality but, as we shall see, it looks like he's just been good at avoiding kiss'n'tells.

The boys are here to talk about their sixth album, the Rat Pack-inspired Allow us to be frank. But first things first - what we really want to know is how the boys feel about losing their most, er, outspoken member...

So what are the good things to come out out of Brian quitting?
Kian: You can get us all in one cab, and we get more money because it's split four ways rather than five.
Shane: It's so much quieter. Everybody's getting on with their jobs and enjoying it. I don't mean any disrespect to Brian - he's a very bubbly character - but it's a lot more chilled now.

Do you think Brian looked better when he was in Westlife or now?
S: Oh, Jesus - now, without a doubt.
Nicky: He's lost about 3st!
S: He looks f***ing unbelievable at the moment.

Are you a bit miffed that he didn't make an effort while he was in the band?
S: Totally, yeah! But when you're a solo artist, everything about you is under scrutiny. In a band, you'll always have people to cover you up - there's four others to take the attention if you're having a fat day - but as a solo act it's all about you.

Did you laugh when he changed the spelling of his name?
K: I found it pretty strange Brian saying that we asked him to change the spelling of his name, that we were the ones who told him to spell it with a "y"...
Mark: I remember sitting in his parents' house in Dublin and he was practising his signature and he actually couldn't do it properly with an "i" so he changed it - he thought it looked more "boyband" like that.

When did you last see Brian?
S: I chatted to him yesterday and he's obviously going through a really tough time. We spoke to Kerry last week, too - they're both going through it. They're a young couple and it's a very difficult time for them, but they're trying to sort it out.

What advice have you given to Brian and Kerry?
S: I can't give them any as I've never been in that position. I'm very happily married.
N: Yeah, and me. We're trying to make sure they know we're here for them both, but some people want to deal with it themselves. Brian might want our help and comfort down the road a bit.

What do you think of the rumours that their break-up is a publicity stunt?
K: Well, I think it's a silly move if they're doing it for the publicity. If they are, the public aren't going to like them for it.
N: Come on, we know Brian! We've spoken to him about it and there's absolutely no way this is a publicity stunt.

Do you think they'll ever get back together?
S: We never thought they'd split up in the first place, so...To be honest, we know nothing. It's just a very sad situation.

Can you relate to Brian's Real to me, about being disillusioned with fame and wanting to stay at home and drink lots of tea?
K: Brian left the band because he didn't enjoy it any more. We all still want this because we still love doing it, but if you get to the stage where it's dragging you down and you wake up miserable every morning, that's when you call it a day.
N: Plus, Brian has kids and that's an extra pressure when you're in this business. None of us do, but hopefully we will some day.

Are any of you planning babies in the near future?
N: Not right now...
S: ...but you never know.

So you'll stay in the band until you get bored of it?
S: That's basically it.
N: Or until the fans get bored of us.

But after 12 No.1 hits, don't you ever get complacent?
S: Yes, for a time, definitely. When we were getting No.1 after No.1, it didn't really feel like much of an achievement. But this year, we're only releasing one single off this album and if that goes to No.1 it will be a happy Christmas for all of us.
N: Things happen for a reason, and it would've been boring if we'd had No.1s forever. We'd be sitting here and you'd be asking us questions like, "You're had more No.1s than any other act..."

Well, you have nearly!
N: The Beatles and Elvis are ahead of us.
S: And Cliff Richard.
N: No, I think he's the same as us.

Why did you choose to do a Rat Pack album after Robbie Williams did it so successfully?
K: We wanted to do it really unsuccessfully!
S: Lots of artists have sung the songs, but nobody's tried to recreate the Rat Pack as a four-piece.
N: It's just something new, it's getting into character - like acting. Making the video in Las Vegas seemed a better idea than going and recording another big ballad and coming up with an original video idea for that.

Can you explain to our younger readers what the Rat Pack was?
N: It was a bunch of crooners from the 50s who were mates, did films together and were singers in their own right. They were the real Dons of the time - everybody wanted to hang out with them. They were supposedly heavy drinkers and they had a lot of fun.

How are Westlife like the Rat Pack?
N: Everybody wants to hang out with us, we're the Dons of our time and we're heavy drinkers!

What appeals to you about that era?
M: I don't know if they had bling back in the 50s, but the Rat Pack was more "classy" than "street", if you know what I mean. I think that's definitely similar to Westlife - and they liked taking advantaged of their position in terms of getting into clubs and having great nights out, which is something we do.
K: Skipping the queues and getting free drinks!

Is that still a novelty?
K: Course it is!
N: You do appreciate it when it's p***ing with rain.
M: Some clubs aren't worth queuing to get in to, but if you can get straight in the side door then it's different.

Do you come to Stringfellows often?
M: No. It's not really our thing.

So which are the good clubs?
K: Pangaea-where Prince Harry punched that photographer.

A friend of mine saw you all in NYT [a London club] last Saturday...
S: Oh yes, we were there.

...and they saw Mark there snogging a pretty brunette girl.
M: [pause] Really?
K: I didn't see you snogging an attractive brunette.
M: I didn't see myself snogging an attractive brunette, either.

So you're denying this, even though I have a witness...
M: You know, I can't really remember...[all the boys laugh]
S: We were drunk that night.
M: Yes, and it was a really, really late night, wasn't it?
S: It was about six in the morning when we left.

So you're not seeing anyone?
M: Nope. And I don't remember snogging anyone last weekend!

OK, we believe you [not]. What do you think of your fan Beth Evans, who's had all of you tattooed on her back?
S: I chatted to her on the phone actually. She said, "Do you think I'm mad?" And I said, "Well, it's not the coolest thing I've ever heard." She's obviously a total Westlife maniac and loves us beyond belief, but at the end of the day it's her back.

Do your fans ever freak you out?
S: Totally. Some of them terrify you because they get too involved. They want to pull your head off just so they can say they did it.
K: It's scary when you start getting letters from 40-year-old women saying, "I know you don't really love her, you know you want to be with me." That gets freaky. A lot of the girls follow us around to a ridiculous extent.
M: They'll fly to Germany just to look at you from 200 metres. Their whole life revolves around what we do-and these are grown-up women!

But I guess you have to be nice to them...
K: No, to a certain extent you can say, "Will you go home and stop annoying me with your s**te." There are times when you think to yourself, "How have they got themselves so deep into this? Surely there's something more to their life than Westlife?"
M: It freaks me out when they come near my house. I can't even go into the garden and kick a football with my dad. I f***ing hate it when they come near my house!
N: Me, too. Will you all get the f**k away from my house!
S: Leave our houses alone! Please!

Do you ever go on nights out with Simon Cowell?
N: We've actually become really good friends with him now. We went out with him when we were in Las Vegas.
K: We've had more arguments with him than anyone over the past five years, but we genuinely have a soft spot for Simon - deep down he's a really good lad. He is what he is on telly - just as brutally honest in real life.

So he'll tell you when you're rubbish then...
S: He does. He once said, "Your career will go down the drain if you don't do this song."

Was that Mandy?
S: Yeah. We heard the song and it wasn't that we didn't like it, but we were like, "Why are we doing another cover?" And he told us it would ruin our career if we didn't.
N: And you know what? We wouldn't be sat here if we hadn't listened to him, and that's the truth.

How has he changed since he became a celebrity?
S: He's got a lot nicer.
M: He's definitely happier in a situation where he's better known. He's got a real knack for knowing what the public wants and now he has an actual relationship with them- Simon and his public. He likes that.
N: He can make things happen more easily, too. Whether it's TV, magazines or the record industry, everyone listens to Simon Cowell. Whereas, three years ago, he'd still have the same ideas but it would take much more work to get people interested. Now, whether he says, people go, "Well, he must be right." I think that's made him feel more comfortable.
K: And 50 million pounds in the bank must help, too...

Westlife's new album, Allow Us To Be Frank, is out now. The single, Smile, is out on December 6.

WORDS: Catherine Woods
PHOTOGRAPHY: Neil Cooper
PHOTOS: Allactiondigital.com, Bigpicturesphoto.com, Capital Pictures, Xposurephotos.com; With thanks to Stringfellows, London.

article ©New! 2004